Retirement report suggests a mind shift in what pensioners want from their retirement income.
Retirement income specialist Just SA released the results of its 2022 independent retirement tracking study, which suggests a more permanent mind shift in what pensioners want from their retirement income – from flexibility to certainty.
Having an income in retirement that continues for life has remained the top priority across four consecutive surveys conducted since 2018. At the same time, the flexibility to decide how much income to draw has dropped three positions in importance since the last results in 2020. This suggests that the pandemic and other macro issues such as accelerating inflation have served as catalysts to change the mindset of pensioners to one that is geared towards certainty.
When analysing the full results of the 2022 study, which was conducted via online and telephonic interviews with over 380 pre-retirees and retirees between the ages of 50 and 85, three predominant retirement themes emerged: financial certainty, financial endurance and financial planning.
Retirees live in an age of uncertainty
Just SA’s survey reveals a lingering financial effect of the pandemic, coupled with fears of rising inflation, and an increasing need to dip into retirement savings. South Africans over 50 are no more confident in 2022 that they have enough retirement savings, with only 2 in 5 believing that their income will cover monthly expenses should they live to 100.
The message of increasing longevity is not getting through
Worryingly, when asked who they would turn to should their retirement money run out in future, 57% expect to call on their children or grandchildren, with 42% looking to siblings or other family members. And while external research shows that people need around 20x annual income for a sustainable retirement, the average respondent admits to having saved only 10x, with many having not even saved 2x. Unsurprisingly, then, the overwhelming majority (70%) also acknowledge that they will need to change their lifestyle if investment markets fall by more than 10%.
Retirement planning is still seen as very important
Similar to 2020, when the study was last done, an overwhelming majority (80%) feel it is important to set retirement objectives, yet ironically, only 52% are planning ahead, which is down 20% compared to 72% in 2020. Only 3 in 10 use or intend to use a financial adviser to help them determine a suitable roadmap ahead. Shockingly – considering the age group of the respondents – as much as a third have not done any retirement calculations at all, citing not knowing how (28%) or not having enough money to plan (26%) as their main reasons why.
Just SA CEO Deane Moore says: “When so many factors are uncertain and unpredictable, it’s natural to seek out security. This might explain why the preference for certainty that we saw established during the COVID crisis, seems to have become a more permanent shift, as the world moves through another set of crises.”
Moore finds the overall findings of the 2022 tracking study concerning for a variety of reasons.
“Not only does Just Retirement Insights 2022 reveal a continued lack of confidence among retirees about their financial future, but also a disconnect between their expectations and the reality of retirement.”
At retirement, a pensioner’s salary stops, but expenses continue, and they look to replace that salary with a reliable income.
He concludes: “If we could share one clear message to South African pensioners, it would be that it is possible to secure an income for life so that you never feel you are a burden on your children. Life annuities provide guaranteed income for life to cover essential expenses and any remaining assets can be invested to draw on when needed.”
Note from Just SA: A special thank you to YEI members who completed our survey! The results help us better understand the South African retirement market and your retirement needs.
Relevant Articles:
https://youve-earned-it.co.za/site/just-sa/
Choosing an annuity for retirement – which one is ‘just right’?
Ref.: Your article on Voluntary Annuity – Partially tax free.
1. What are the different options, minimum and max. investment amounts and terms?
2. What is the formula used to calculate the taxable portion?
3. Is that taxable portion dependent in any way on the term or nature of the voluntary option chosen?
4. Can funds be switched from a compulsory LIVING Annuity and if so; then what are the tax implications to the transfer of capital from one to the other?
5. What happens should the spouse owning the voluntary annuity die and wish to leave the investment to the survivor?
Dear Peter
Thank you for your enquiries above – we will forward this to Just SA and ask that they respond directly to you, and if appropriate, on this forum.
Regards, The YEI Team